Nintendo Switch firmware 3.0.2 released, hackers advise not to update

A few hours ago, the latest update for the Nintendo Switch, firmware 3.0.2, was released. Although at the time of this writing it appears that the update is not compulsory to access online services such as the eShop, this might change as Nintendo could make the latest firmware required for eShop at some point.

This latest release brings some online functionality to some countries, but otherwise feels like a NOP for most of us. From the official changelog:

Nintendo Switch Online

Added online play in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. This is currently available for free until the paid online service launches in 2018.

General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience

Unsurprisingly, many users on the scene are wondering if they should update, especially since firmware 3.0.1 already patched some of the most important exploits found so far. If you’re stuck on 3.0.1, it might feel like it makes sense to update to 3.0.2 now.

On the other side of the fence however, Nintendo Switch hackers recommend not to update, and we’ll echo their statement here: unless you have a good reason to update, if you eventually want homebrew on your console, you should always stay on as low a firmware as you can.

It does not mean that anyone today has good (public) reasons to believe that 3.0.2 is more secure than 3.0.1, or that 3.0.1 has a specific exploit that got patched with this release. But lower firmwares are always, mathematically, more vulnerable than higher firmware. If only because you can ultimately update from 3.0.1 to 3.0.2, but not the other way around.

The easiest (but not cheapest) solution to achieve that is to buy two consoles: one that you keep at a very low firmware for homebrew, and another one that you maintain up to date with the latest firmware, for official games. In the case of the Nintendo Switch however, this is easier said than done, as the console has been notoriously hard to find since its launch 6 months ago.

I’m wondering what kind of hack will be arrived. Maybe homebrews channel. Same on wii u & 3ds. I don’t care about piracy at all I just care about emulators. So can we see dolphin emu and ppsspp on switch? Because this two emulators is very fun to me. Switch is shared same tegra x1 same on android tv. So can we see these emulators on it?

On Nintendo Switch shortages: I work in a retail environment in the US, and whereas previously we only got shipments in every 1.5-2.5 weeks… as of a couple weeks ago, we’ve been getting them in consistently every week. Ask your local retail store when they get trucks in (note: NOT when Switches come in), and those are good days to call to check on Switch inventory.

Do either that, or have a mental breakdown and opt to buy the stupid Gamestop bundle instead. Either way you should be able to locate and buy a Switch in a month or less.

Update and enjoy your switch. We’re either going to have a Vita type of slow homebrew (and don’t forget how optimistic everyone was there saying it’s essentially mobile hardware so it’d be easy to port stuff), in which case it’s definitely not worth staying back and missing a lot of good games. Or we’re going to have DS/3DS type development at breakneck speeds once and if we reach critical access.

Archives

Disclaimer: Wololo.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com